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Major city · China

Yangshuo阳朔

Give Yangshuo 2–3 nights: one day on the Yulong River by bike or raft, one on the Li River stretch at Xingping, one for Moon Hill and the caves.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CNY
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, rain and crowds), Chinese New Year and the first week of October
Airport
KWL
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
  • China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
  • China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
  • China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
  • China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.

Yangshuo is a small county town on the Li River, ringed by limestone karst peaks, about 65 km south of Guilin. It has no airport and no useful railway station of its own, so you arrive by bus, taxi or boat from Guilin or by high-speed rail to Yangshuo/Xingping station. The town itself is walkable in an afternoon; the reason to stay is the countryside around it — river valleys, cycling tracks, caves and world-class rock climbing. It is now mainly a domestic Chinese destination, so expect Chinese menus and few English speakers outside hotels.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Yangshuo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Street or quick mealNoodle soup or rice noodles¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4)
  • Beerbottle in a bar / can from a shop¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5)¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi within town, after bargaining¥10–30 (≈ US$2–5)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week¥80–150 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCN¥60 (≈ US$9)
  • Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per roomCN¥350 (≈ US$50)
  • High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per roomCN¥900 (≈ US$130)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥250 (≈ US$35) · Mid CN¥500 (≈ US$70) · High CN¥1,100 (≈ US$160)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Karst peaks along the Li and Yulong riversCycling and bamboo-raft trips through the countrysideRock climbing on limestone wallsWest Street (Xijie) bars and cafés
Airports
KWL Guilin Liangjiang International (Nearest airport, in Guilin. Airport shuttle to Yangshuo northern bus station, about 90 min, ¥50.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Yangshuo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

13°C

7°C

12 rd

Feb

16°C

9°C

13 rd

Mar

19°C

12°C

17 rd

Apr

25°C

17°C

18 rd

May

29°C

21°C

18 rd

Jun

31°C

24°C

18 rd

Jul

33°C

25°C

16 rd

Aug

34°C

25°C

15 rd

Sep

32°C

22°C

10 rd

Oct

27°C

18°C

9 rd

Nov

22°C

13°C

8 rd

Dec

16°C

8°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk. Electric minibuses run five routes at ¥1 a ride. Bicycles rent for ¥20–50 a day (better brands about ¥50); electric scooters about ¥100 a day and need no licence, while petrol vehicles do. Taxis are few and refuse the meter — agree a price first, roughly ¥10–30 in town after bargaining. Motorbike taxis do short hops for ¥8–15. Minibuses from the bus terminal reach Gaotian (Moon Hill), Jinbao via Baisha (Yulong Bridge), Fuli and Xingping for a few yuan.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Xingping and the Yangdi–Xingping river stretch

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Minibus from Yangshuo bus terminal, about 45 min, ¥5.5 (≈ under US$1); or cycle out and take a raft

The most famous Li River scenery, including the view printed on the ¥20 note. Go early, before the big tour boats.

Moon Hill

go

Door to door: About 40–50 min

Gaotian minibus from the bus terminal, then a short walk to the steps

Steep stepped climb through the arch; the Gaotian van leaves every 15 min and the last one back picks up around 18:30.

Yulong River valley

go

Door to door: 20–40 min to the riverside tracks

Bike or scooter west from town, or minibus towards Jinbao via Baisha

Riverside cycling tracks and stone bridges; the paths are easy to lose, so take a map or guide.

Guilin

go

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Express bus from Guilin Bus Terminal, every 20 min, about 1.5 h, ¥22 (≈ US$4)

Use it as your arrival or departure leg, not a day trip in both directions.

Longsheng rice terraces

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h each way

Bus or car north via Guilin, then local transport up to the villages

Doable as a long day trip if you start early, but staying overnight in Ping'an allows for sunrise views without the rush.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

West Street (Xijie) and Guihua Lu

The old tourist core, bars and cafés on the creek; loud at night, walkable to everything.

Diecuilu and Pantao Rd

Main bus station sits at the corner; more hotels, quieter, 10–15 min walk to West Street.

Riverside, south end of town

Hotels near the Li River foot of town; calmer, still a short walk to the centre.

Yulong River valley villages

Guesthouses 5–10 km out among the fields; you need a bike, scooter or arranged shuttle.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
¥200–350 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
Mid
¥350–700 (≈ US$50–100) excl. bed
High
¥700 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 3 nights × CN¥350CN¥1,050
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × CN¥500CN¥3,000
Airport shuttle KWL to Yangshuo, one way2 × CN¥50CN¥100
Bicycle rental, one day2 × CN¥40CN¥80
Li River cruise, one way from Guilin2 × CN¥400 · cheaper by joining a tour groupCN¥800
eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥120CN¥240
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeCN¥527
Trip total≈ CN¥966 per person per day, bed includedCN¥5,797≈ US$850

2026 estimate in yuan; flights and rail excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Noodle soup or rice noodles¥10–25 (≈ US$2–4)
Beer: bottle in a bar / can from a shop¥15–35 (≈ US$3–5) / ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
Bicycle rental, one dayBetter brands about ¥50.¥20–50 (≈ US$3–7)
Electric scooter rental, one dayAbout ¥100 (≈ US$14)
Local minibus ride¥1–8 (≈ US$1–2)
Taxi within town, after bargaining¥10–30 (≈ US$2–5)
Local guide, per person per dayAbout ¥100 (≈ US$14)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week¥80–150 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Yangshuo is calm and clean by Chinese city standards; the real risks are bag-snatching from motorbikes while you cycle, unlicensed petrol scooters, and taxis or guides that won't quote a price up front.
  • Taxi and minibus touts at Guilin station overcharge; buy from the counter at the bus terminal instead.
  • Petrol scooters and motorbikes are illegal without a Chinese licence; police mostly ignore electric scooters.
  • Bag-snatching from motorbikes happens to cyclists — use a closed basket and lock it.
  • Shops pay guides commission, so guided 'shopping' stops are overpriced; bargain hard and shop without a guide.
  • Businesses move or close often; a listed address may be out of date.
  • In the winter dry season Li River cruises may start halfway down the river, with a bus leg first.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Fire
119
Ambulance
120

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Yangshuo阳朔

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

请带我去这个地址Please take me to this address

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Fire119
  • Ambulance120

Embassy

Most embassies are in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou or Chengdu; there is no consulate in Yangshuo.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Guilin Airport → Yangshuo, shuttle: ¥50 (≈ US$7), about 90 min
  • Guilin → Yangshuo, express bus: ¥22 (≈ US$4), about 1.5 h
  • Li River cruise, Guilin → Yangshuo: ¥400 (≈ US$60)+, slower than the bus
  • Taxi within town: ¥10–30 (≈ US$2–5) after bargaining

Say or show

  • 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
  • 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
  • 多少钱？ — How much is it? (duō shao qián)
  • 太贵了 — Too expensive (tài guì le)
  • 我不要导游 — I don't want a guide (wǒ bú yào dǎo yóu)
  • 洗手间在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ)

Carry small notes for minibuses and rafts; many small vendors take cash or a phone payment app only.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yangshuo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, rain and crowds), Chinese New Year and the first week of October · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for KWL: shuttle times, taxi fallback and the last bus from Guilin, field-checked.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: West Street, Guihua Lu, Diecuilu/Pantao Rd and the riverside.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Moon Hill, Yulong Bridge, Xingping raft pier, caves) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to China

Sources